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But we have no car

I’m a car seat fanatic when we’re in a moving vehicle. I would rather push my hideously unwieldy double car seat stroller up a hill in the Black Forest than risk my kids being in a car without their Graco 32s. However, since we don’t actually own a car (city living folks!), the car seats are constantly being pulled from vehicles into buildings, onto planes clipped into buggies. When we are home, there is usually at least one car seat in the girls’ room. And more often than not, it is the “preferred napping station” for one or the other. Bummer then, the article I found today on US News & World Report.

Apparently more than 40,000 babies were treated for injuries over a 4 year period that occurred when infants were left in car seats that were in the home, rather than out in the minivan, where they apparently belong. Most of the injured were less than 8 months old and most of the injuries were to the head and neck. Basically, if your kid is in the car seat, even if not in the car, you need to fasten their buckles. Babies have gone tumbling from car seats set on tables, twisted themselves out of seats on the floor and gotten stuck anywhere between their chair and the floor. Oops.

The study’s authors conclude that car seats are best left in the car. But we don’t own one. But I do have a storage cupboard. So I suppose we are going to have to start sleeping in out cribs, ladies. Bummer for you. The baby bucket was just so convenient. Either that or Mommy’s got to remember to do up your straps.

Dr. Lara Zibners, Jul 08, 2010

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